HISTORIC ASTORIA TOUR

HISTORIC ASTORIA TOUR

Astoria, rich in history, was founded as an American fur trading post in 1811. It lies inland from the mouth of the Columbia River and is the oldest settlement in the Pacific NW. Prior to the founding of this quaint coastal town, Lewis and Clark set up camp in the region in 1806, and spent a long cold wet winter across the bay at the now reconstructed Fort Clatsop.

In and about downtown Astoria are the recreated 1811 blockhouse of Fort Astoria, the 1885 Victorian Captain George Flavel Mansion, the informative Columbia River Maritime Museum with the lighthouse ship Columbia, and the famous Astoria Column.

TOUR DETAILS

Start Time

9:00am

Finish Time

6:00pm

Meeting Place

We will pick up your group downtown or at another place to be determined

Price

$140.00 per person

Included

Water, snacks and museum fees

Lunch Options

We recommend bringing your own lunch. Or we can stop at a local restaurant (not included) or we can supply a box lunch for an extra fee.

Options

Choose to take our itinerary below, or we can tailor a trip to meet your group’s interests

TOUR ITINERARY

1

ASTORIA’S WATERFRONT

Astoria, founded as Fort Astoria in 1811, was a fur trading post for the Pacific Fur Trading Company. Due to its location, Astoria was important to Oregon’s early economy, not only because of the fur trade, but also because of the fishing and logging industries. However, with the collapse of the fishing industry in the late 1970s and the closure of its large canneries, and diminished coastal logging, Astoria had to reinvent itself. Today, Astoria is known as a historic destination, with many sites to see and museums to visit. With the renaissance of the downtown, Astoria offers an array of wonderful new restaurants, shops and galleries worth visiting.

2

ASTORIA COLUMN

Enjoy a breathtaking view of Young’s Bay, Astoria, the Megler Bridge, and the Pacific Ocean from the Astoria Column. Built in 1926, the column stands 125 ft high. Its viewing platform may be reached by climbing its 164 steps. The beautiful artwork on the exterior of the Astoria Column was painted in the Italian technique of sgraffito (using paint pigment on wet plaster) and depicts scenes of the Discovery of the Columbia River by Captain Robert Grey in 1792, the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery in 1806, and the arrival of the sailing ship Tonquin in 1811. The arrival of the latter established the Fort Astoria fur trading post.

3

FLEXIBLE OPTIONS

Fort Clatsop offers a rich history of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The recreated fort is a living history museum with interpreters retelling the stories of Lewis and Clark and their experiences. Spoiler alert: they hated it! Find out why they were eager to get back to St. Louis.

For those interested in beautiful old homes, the Captain George Flavel Mansion,built in 1885, is one of the finest examples of Queen Anne architecture in Oregon. Flavel built this home for his retirement after working as a noted bar pilot on the Columbia River and real estate investor in downtown Astoria. The 11,600 sq ft mansion contains beautiful fir woodwork (painted to look like mahogany and burl rosewood), six ornate fireplaces and 12’ to 16’ high ceilings with plaster medallions.

4

COLUMBIA RIVER MARITIME MUSEUM

The Columbia River Maritime Museum was founded to preserve the rich maritime heritage of the Columbia River region. Museum exhibits consist of the history of the Bar Pilots, the fishing industry and the role of the Coast Guard on the Columbia River Bar. Moored outside is the “Columbia” lightship, which served as a floating lighthouse to guide ships entering the mouth of the Columbia River.